Switchable moiré potentials in ferroelectric WTe2/WSe2 superlattices (2209.04981v2)

Abstract: Moir\'e materials, with superlattice periodicity many times the atomic length scale, have enabled the studies of strong electronic correlations and band topology with unprecedented tunability. However, nonvolatile control of the moir\'e potentials, which could allow on-demand switching of the superlattice effects, has not been achieved to date. Here we demonstrate the switching of the correlated and moir\'e band insulating states and the associated nonlinear anomalous Hall effect by the ferroelectric effect. This is achieved in a ferroelectric WTe2 bilayer of the Td structure with a centered-rectangular moir\'e superlattice induced by interfacing with a WSe2 monolayer of the H structure. The results can be understood in terms of polarization-dependent charge transfer between two WTe2 monolayers, which possess very different moir\'e potential depths; ferroelectric switching thus turns on/off the superlattice. Our study demonstrates the potential of creating new functional moir\'e materials by incorporating intrinsic symmetry-breaking orders.